- President’s Office expresses concerns about Catholic newspaper “Gnanartha Pradeepaya” report of 8th October’23 which called for an “international investigation” into the Easter attacks: says Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has handed over the comprehensive Presidential Commission Report on the Easter attacks, consisting of 88 volumes and 48,909 pages, to the Church.
- Former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal gives evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee: tables evidence which shows the Govt was on the verge of receiving a cash loan of USD 1.0 bn plus a trade facility of USD 1.5 bn from China, in addition to a USD 2.0 bn facility from India, at the time the SL authorities hastily announced bankruptcy on 12th April’22: refers to the announcement of bankruptcy as an “act of conspiracy” to subjugate the country once again to certain foreign powers.
- State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath says the new motor vehicle revenue licence system (eRL2.0) which eases the process of obtaining or renewing revenue licences, is set to come into effect from 7th October: also says measures are underway to digitise the payment systems of all state institutions by 31 March’24.
- Central Bank data shows that “Hot-money” invested in SL T-Bills & Bonds is continuing to exit from SL and that USD 16 mn has exit in the week ending 6th October’23: Official Reserves continue to fall, & reaches USD 3.5 bn by end-September’23 from USD 3.8 bn at end-July’23: CB continues to sell Forex in the market to “defend” the LKR.
- Colombo Municipal Council Commissioner Badhrani Jayawardena says a discussion with “tree experts” will be held on Monday to take expedited action regarding dangerous trees which are older than 30 to 35 years, in the Colombo city.
- Education Minister Dr Susil Premajayanth says a Rs.3,000 voucher will be granted to 800,000 school students with economic difficulties, within a 3 week period.
- Central Bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit Additional Director Dr Subhani Keerthiratne says SL runs the risk of being designated as a “greylisted/blacklisted” country, if it fails to implement all the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force, before March 2025: warns that most countries treat “greylisted” countries as of “high risk” and blacklist them, leading to many banks not dealing with such country’s customers & institutions.
- SL Assn of Professional Conference, Exhibition & Event Organisers President Imran Hassan says Sri Lanka’s Meetings, Incentive travel, Conference & Exhibition (MICE) market is taking a hit from the price controls on hotel rooms in Colombo.
- Supreme Court allows the Bar Association & Transparency International to intervene in a Petition filed by the Centre for Environment Justice in the the X-Press Pearl Disaster.
- South Africa beat SL by 102 runs in SL’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Opening match: South Africa – 428/5 (50): Madushanka – 86/2: SL – 326 all out (44.5): Asalanka – 79, Kusal Mendis – 76.
